The conference is based on the virulent discomfort that is caused in many parts of the literary and scientific sphere by the oeuvre and performances of Christian Kracht. This discomfort generally manifests itself less in the offensive scandalisation of incriminated writings, but rather in an often other than literarily based condemnation of the author – which also expresses itself in an exemplary absence of literary prizes for an oeuvre that at the same time finds a large audience. Both fans as well as despisers seldomly argue from a literary aesthetics point of view.

But just who or what is 'Christian Kracht' and what distinguishes his texts? The conference occupies itself with questions on the genuinely authorical methods of this writer that are based on the often limiting and divisive reception of Kracht. Therefore, also previously rarely appreciated early and other writings of the author will be taken into account. Until now, they have too seldomly been examined within the context of his complete corpus and as elements of the politics of an oeuvre.

Programme

Thursday, 13th October 2016

Main building ('Hauptgebäude') of the University of Bern, room 304 (Hochschulstrasse 4, 3012 Bern)